I picked up my MY02 S on Wednesday, on the 100 odd mile drive home I noticed a ticking noise coming from the engine most apparent at low revs. I'm hoping its the TCT. Once I got the car home i had a proper listen and took a video, see what you think:

[media]http://youtu.be/5X46FmXIBUM[/media]

The noise seems to be coming from the rear of the engine which I believe is where the timing chain is?

The car has only done 48000 miles so would be really gutted if it was an internal engine problem, any thoughts greatly appreciated

 

Timing chain and tensioner are at the front of the engine ... what's the oil and oil levels like and when were the valves last done. Also have you checked that the spark plugs are tight?

 

Doesn't sound like a TCT problem, more like a fecked bearing in one of the pulleys.

 

I was thinking there's a bit (a lot) of valve noise in there too, but wonder if it's a valve spring retainer that's gone ? Did you mis-shift and over-rev it on the way home ? I'd definitely whip the cam cover off and give it a visual at least. Here's hoping it's not a spun bearing which it very well could be (hence unclefesters' oil question) but I'd expect a bit more "knock" in the sound if it was.

 

...At the front, thanks (forgive my ignorance).

Oil is brand new and level is fine, I haven't checked the plugs yet but will do as soon as it stops raining and I'm unsure of when the valve clearances were last checked. The noise is worse when the engine is warm and is harder to hear at higher revs.

I test drove the car on Monday and the engine sounded fine the noise wasn't there, I put the deposit down and returned to collect it on Wednsday. I was pretty cautious on the way home and only went into the VTEC zone a couple of times and didn't over rev or mis-shift - However I'm thinking it may have been taken for a "goodbye" run by the sellers son on the Tuesday as i stupidly didn't record the mileage on the Monday.

 

Just to be clear, you can't overrev it with the throttle but you can with the gears by mechanically over revving it. Was it a trader or a private sale?

 

It was a Private sale http://pistonheads.com/sales/4168594.htm

 

Found a similar recording of a noise - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKg5xSGwJ_g if you read the comments it might give some clues as to what's causing your noise